Wow I had a scare. Jumping Potter's Wrasse

[RogerJoys]

This AM something really spooked the community. All the fish were hiding and I was waiting for them to come out. I am not sure what it was.

A few minutes after I noticed the mad scatter, I saw my small Potter's Wrasse on the floor. I quickly put him back in the tank and he dropped to the bottom still breathing but I was heartbroken. I was certain he was a goner.

4 hours later, he's back out and ate voraciously like nothing happened. I can only hope he didn't suffer internal damage and has put this past him.

I now have a mesh top on the aquarium.

[skibum9884]

Good move! Just make sure you're using 1/4" mesh like what they sell at BRS. You'd be surprised how small a hole some of these fish can get through!

Glad to hear it sounds like the fish is doing ok.

[Crazy_Dane]

Where did you get the mesh from? I got a flasher wrasse, went out the next day to get egg grate (light diffuser stuff from lowes) to make a lid from. Came home to find the wrasse carpet surfing his way into rigor mortise :( Now I'd like to get something a little more attractive to use as a lid and then try another wrasse.

[savageAJC]

try your local glass/window shop, a few of them here in Tucson will make any size for $12.00

[snorvich]

Where did you get the mesh from? I got a flasher wrasse, went out the next day to get egg grate (light diffuser stuff from lowes) to make a lid from. Came home to find the wrasse carpet surfing his way into rigor mortise :( Now I'd like to get something a little more attractive to use as a lid and then try another wrasse.

Egg crate will not keep them in. You need 1/4 inch holes

[Crazy_Dane]

try your local glass/window shop, a few of them here in Tucson will make any size for $12.00

Will make any size how? Is it like a window screen? Sorry for the stupid questions :-/

[Crazy_Dane]

Egg crate will not keep them in. You need 1/4 inch holes

Thanks! I guess it is a good thing that I'm doing research now before I have another tragedy!!

[RogerJoys]

I used 1/4 inch hole material used to construct frag racks by my LFS. My LFS sold me a sheet that was about 24x48 $24.00 USD and is solid and does not seem to diffuse lighting too much. I cut it to size and it fits on the lips of the aquarium and is invisible except when you look down from the top.

Good luck to all

[RogerJoys]

I should say 1/4 inch square opening, not 1/4 inch hole by the way.

[snorvich]

I should say 1/4 inch square opening, not 1/4 inch hole by the way.

Yes, I assumed that was obvious.

[RogerJoys]

Yes, I assumed that was obvious.

Sorry ... it's the engineer in me :)

[RogerJoys]

Sadly, my Potter's Wrasse never appeared today. I fear that he had some internal injuries from the ordeal that caught up with him. I have not given up hope that he's alive, but am pretty bummed.

-r

[strout]

A bit of info that might come in handy.
I just made two screen tops for my new tank set up, display tank 48x30x25 and a 29g quarantine tank. The screen I ordered from BRS, the metal for the border I got from Lowe's with the 5/16 inch corner pieces. The 29g top was made first and came out great, the display tank, not so good. After I made the top on the floor and put it on top of the tank, the top was racked a bit because the 48' metal on the front and back of the top was sucked in towards the middle of the top because I was trying to get the screen as tight as I could. I went back to Lowe's to get a thicker metal, they didn't carry it. Home Depot on the other hand did have a thicker metal that took a 7/16 corner pieces. Remade the top, came out perfect.

[prop-frags]

Sadly, my Potter's Wrasse never appeared today. I fear that he had some internal injuries from the ordeal that caught up with him. I have not given up hope that he's alive, but am pretty bummed.

-r

Sorry to hear this news. Let us know how it turns out.

[RogerJoys]

Well this is a roller coaster. The Potter's is back out and HUNGRY. Many lessons learned on this adventure.

[Chipie]

Glad your wrasse is fine. I used a kit to make custom window screen and a material commonly called bridal's vail. The holes in it are about 1/4 (maybe a bit smaller) and it doesn't affect the lighting. I used some black and painted the screen frame with black krylon and it look good.

Here's an old picture of one i made for a 65 g tank a while ago.
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o76/Chipie30-06/HPIM0869.jpg

[71jeep]

Great save they are a beautiful fish

[Africa]

My bloody Macropharyngodon cynoguttatus jumped yesterday.
I was not so lucky to find him in time - grrrr.

Other annoying thing is, despite looking, I cannot find the appropriate mesh this side of the world, so for now my fish remain at risk.